It’s a complicated situation.
At the San Beda College testimonial dinner held at Club Filipino in San Juan City on Thu, Jul 14, President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants former President Fidel V. Ramos as the Philippines’ special envoy to China following an international tribunal’s ruling on the disputed West Philippine Sea.
Duterte said, “I would like to respectfully ask (former President Fidel Ramos) to go to China and start the talks.”
Duterte explained that the Philippines can’t go to war against China. He stated, “War? It is not an option. So what is the other side? Peaceful talks. I cannot give you the wherewithals now, I have to consult many people, including (former) President Ramos.”
He added, “We gain nothing, but we also do not want to offend the United States. Why? Because we have identified ourselves allied with the Western powers. So there’s an interest that we also should not forget, our interests and the interest of our allies,” Duterte added.
“Duterte went on to say that it is important to be ‘careful’ in dealing with China so as not to create bigger problems not only for the Philippines, but for other countries as well,” reports ABS-CBN News.
Duterte likewise pointed out: “You know, there are a lot of complications there. Because now that the tribunal has ruled, ‘yung arbitral decision says that, and if China would insist on a space domain, that you have to identify yourself before you can cross that vast sea there. America will not like it.”
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